Page 98 of Murder at Donwell Abbey

Unfortunately, her arguments had been hampered by the fact that Larkins had fallen into a strange sort of paralysis, looking as white and lifeless as a marble statue. It was the shock, she supposed, but it didn’t help the situation. And although George was inclined to believe Larkins was innocent,he was still the magistrate, so he’d been forced to concede that the items found under the floor were enough to place Larkins under arrest, at least temporarily.

While Sharpe was taking custody of their poor estate steward, George had asked Emma to hurry to Hartfield in order to get ahead of whatever garbled tale was no doubt spreading through the household—and soon farther afield. Of course, the truth was now much worse than what it had initially seemed, but she’d seen George’s point.

And a good thing she’d gone, since Henry had returned to Hartfield most upset. That had predictably resulted in Isabella and Father giving free rein to their emotions and kicking up a fuss. It had taken Emma a good two hours to calm everyone down and convince Isabella to delay her departure for London until the morning.

She’d then trudged back home through the cold of a dreary winter afternoon, only to be met with the news that the dratted constable had carted Larkins off to prison.

George added another log to the grate. Once he had the flames crackling to his satisfaction, he straightened up and studied her with concern.

“Can I get you something to drink, love?”

She blew out a frustrated breath. “A sherry wouldn’t go amiss, but then I would like some answers.”

“Of course.”

He fetched drinks for both of them and then joined her on the sofa.

“I know this has been a very distressing turn of events,” he somberly said. “But I truly didn’t have a choice.”

Emma grimaced, desperately sorry for him. While George had known Larkins for years and greatly depended on the man’s support, he also considered his estate manager to be a good friend. Whatever anger and worry she was struggling with, George was bound to be feeling all of it and doubly so.

She pressed a hand to his knee. “I apologize. I let my anger get the best of me. Now, what transpired while I was gone that necessitated such drastic measures as sending Larkins to Guildford? I thought you were going to confine him here at the abbey for the time being?”

“Initially, we held him in the old butler’s pantry, with one of the grooms to stand guard.” He shook his head. “You can imagine how well that was received by the staff.”

“Not well at all, I imagine.”

“Mrs. Hodges was exceedingly upset and made no bones about expressing her opinion to Constable Sharpe. He was not well pleased.”

Emma briefly smiled. “Huzzah for Mrs. Hodges. Then what happened?”

“We showed her the mobcap.” He grimaced. “Frankly, I was afraid the poor woman would faint on the spot.”

Emma’s fleeting sense of amusement died a quick death. “Of course she identified the mobcap as belonging to Prudence.”

“Indeed, and the pink ribbon as well.”

That unwelcome revelation prompted Emma to take a fortifying sip of sherry before responding. “She didn’t have any doubts?”

“Certainly not about the mobcap. Harry also confirmed the ribbon belonged to Prudence. It was a present from her father at Christmas. Harry said she was very proud of it and showed it to him when she returned to Donwell.”

She shook her head. “That’s very bad.”

“If it’s any consolation, both Mrs. Hodges and Harry were adamant that Larkins would never harm Prudence. They were both vociferous in their defense of him, as was our head groom.”

“Sharpe was no doubt unimpressed by any of that,” she dryly replied.

George extended his booted legs toward the fire, staring moodily into the flames. “Unfortunately, what other conclusion could one arrive at, based on the existing evidence?”

“I can think of one easily—that Larkins was framed by this anonymous person.”

“I agree, but the constable was unmoved by that argument, given no evidence in that regard. Nor could I deny compelling prima facie evidence of Larkins’s guilt. As such, I had no grounds to prevent Sharpe from carrying out his lawful duties.”

“I hope the constable intends to show you the note.”

“I made it very clear that he was to do so as soon as he returned from Guildford, as well as report to me anything that Larkins might communicate.”

“I take it that Larkins was still declining to defend himself? I simply don’t understand why. His reaction seems so very odd.”